Peterson Pipe Stand

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Peterson Tobaccos & Paraphenalia

After recieving a phone call, and an email praising the site... but with recommendations, we will also focus on Peterson Pipe Tobaccos and Peterson Paraphenalia... Thanks all for your support.

Peterson Posturing

LatakiaLover Knoxboard Yoda Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 1755Location: NortdahKOHtaa, USA Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:55 pm Posted the following:
Recent about-face concerning Petersons

This is gonna be fun: A hardcore Dunhill collector for 20+ years... first the Ferndown bent bulldog review, and now this. Before someone misquotes me because they didn't see the qualifier, or takes what I'm about to say out of context, this opinion ONLY APPLIES to the following Peterson lines:

• 
  
  Straight Grain , Silver Supreme, Gold Supreme, Gold Spigot

• 
  
  DeLuxe System, DeLuxe Classic, Army Spigot, Celtic Natural, Rosselare Natural, Grafton

They are Peterson's "firsts" and "firsts w/possible specks" pipes, and never have fills. Not heresay information, btw, but straight from the keyboard of the owner of Peterson, Tom Palmer.

Ready? "I think they are better pipes than either Dunhills or Ashtons when compared heads-up, and if price is considered, it's an absolute rout. "

What led me to think so? [This] brace of four Petes are all better finished, better cut, better engineered, have much better overall attention to detail, and smoke better than most of the several dozen primo Dunnies I have, and all of the Ashtons. (The one in the upper left is new and hasn't been smoked yet, and while the P.O.Y. in the upper right hasn't either, the identical one Tom swapped it for was smoked extensively.)

Why did it take me so long to discover this? For the same reason I'm posting about it: Peterson's budget lines overshadow their premium stuff. "Taint" their reputation, if you will, in the minds of those who only think of current production Petersons as being "good price-point smokers" and not collectables. (This association thing is why most "first" makers use a different name for their budget lines---Ben Wade for Charatan, Parker for Dunhill, Tilshead for Upshall, etc.)

Once you look closely, though, the preconceptions and prejudices evaporate. I only wish I discovered all this sooner. I seriously doubt I will ever buy another Dunhill or Ashton now that I know about Peterson's high grades and Les Woods' pipes.

Just callin' 'em the way I see 'em, since 1953.

P.S. More pics (not available) of the newest one with interior bowl stain removed. An Army Spigot. Every detail is to my eye, perfect, and the silverwork so thick and well done it's almost sensual. The dark pipe below it is to show the exact shape & size match to my all-time favorite shape, the Dunhill LB.

Editor's note: LL, as he is known, is one of the most well respected and knowledgeable members on the knoxboard and writer of excellent pipe, and tobacco reviews.

ebay: auction of note

To Bid: Auction Ended Aug-11-07 15:11:36 PDT

Note: Nobody here at "The Project" has any affiliation with the ebay seller. We are not endorsing the seller or his/her product. It is posted here for your information should you be in the market for this particular Peterson:

RARE PRE 1920 PETERSON'S SYSTEM CLAY PIPE UNSMOKED

MODEL: RARE PRE 1920 PETERSON'S SYSTEM CLAY PIPE
MAKER: Peterson, Dublin
STAMPING: PETERSON'S over SYSTEM
Condition: TOP and UNSMOKEDBowl finish: clay
Stem style: bent, saddle, vulcanite
Bowl height: 4.6 cm approx
Length: 13 cm approx
Inside diameter: 1.8 cm approx
weight: 45 grams approx

Comments: "Peterson made clay pipes from about 1895 to ca 1910 and for a very short period during WWII. I believe these were made in their London factory. As this pipe is still stamped with the OLD STYLE forked P, I believe it is one of the early ones. "

An Interview With Tom Palmer

© 2007 smokingpipes.com

A Conversation With Tom Palmer

Managing Director, Peterson of Dublin

SYKES: The overall quality (fit, finish, wood quality etc) of Peterson pipes seems to be at an all time high right now. Indeed, it seems that much of this substantial improvement (as far as I can tell) has taken place over the past six or seven years. What have you, personally or collectively as Peterson, done over the past few years to ensure this? What has changed?

TOM: We always strive to produce a quality product which carries our name and therefore gives the smoker the confidence that he will get the best value money can buy whenever he purchases a Peterson.

We have a continuous training programme in the factory with the older more experienced craftsmen passing on their expertise to junior members of the staff. The senior people in the factory would have at least 30 years of experience, so there is nothing they do not know about the art and craft of pipemaking. We have also invested in our equipment and these factors have all contributed to a better quality end product.

The briar we have received over the last 5 years has been very good and in many respects, the best we have seen in decades. So in summary, training and investing in people, raw materials and equipment has paid dividends.

SYKES: In the last two or three years, there seems to have been a profusion of new series and finishes and they seem to have been quite successful. That said, Peterson is still very much rooted in its long history and storied tradition. How do you balance the two commitments-- new high quality pipes, but firmly rooted in the Peterson tradition?

TOM: Each year we introduce new series and finishes in order to bring some exciting new pipes to our customers. It is a consumer product and everyone likes to see something new. We have been very lucky with our new introductions and they have sold successfully throughout the world. I might also say that series like, Harp, Shannon, Rosslare Royal Irish, Racing Green etc. etc. are quite beautiful pipes.

We have also been inspired by Celtic artwork to produce new styles of silver bands for our pipes embracing Irish culture. By and large we have stayed with the shapes that are synonymous with Peterson i.e. mainly bents or semi bents and of course emphasising the silver work - both of these features keep us firmly rooted to our tradition whilst at the same time bringing out exciting new finishes.

SYKES: Could you tell us some general things about Peterson these days. What is the operation like these days? For example, how many pipes does Peterson make?

TOM: We manufacture approximately 2,000 pipes per week that are exported to over 40 countries. In addition we market a full range of pipe tobacco and fine cigars to the same consumer base. As everyone knows , the smoking industry is under threat from many quarters and no other legitimate industry, worldwide, has to contend with such negativity.

But we maintain that pipe and indeed fine cigar smoking is a pleasure and not an addiction and should always be treated as such. What the future holds is difficult to say, but what I will say is that there will always be a demand for quality pipes and that Peterson will be central to this. This year we celebrate 140 years in business, having started in the 19th Century and prospered in the 20th Century, we look forward to the 21st Century with confidence.

QUOTE: Dr. Fred Hanna, Ph.D

"I once owned a lowly Peterson second that was a first rate smoker (as so many of them are), equal to any high grades."

The Myth of Brand and Maker in Pipesmoking

Dr. Fred Hanna, Ph.D

Peterson Guy: Allan Rosenfield

This article was written by Nelson Pidgeom and was first published in the
May, 2004 issue of The Sherlock Holmes Pipe CLub of Boston online newsletter.

In The Spirit of St. Patty's Day:

a story about Ireland in the good 'ole days.

Pictured from left to right: Jimmy Nicholson-former President now retired and living in Wexford, Ireland. Tony Dempsey-Marketing Director (only smoked Canadians) passed away a few years ago. Allan Rosenfield- SHPC Founder, Paddy Larrigan- Master Pipe Maker, just turned 80 and living in Black Rock, just outside of Dublin.

The above is a picture was taken at the Peterson Factory in Dublin, Ireland in 1987. A time not so long ago, when you could still smoke in the bars in Dublin, in fact you could smoke just about anywhere in the world. A time when, if someone talked about Anti, they were talking about their mother's sister and not some tobacco activist. A time when people were a bit less anal and the world was a better place.

Allan Rosenfield, who we reintroduced to the club last month, was fortunate enough to be a part of this historic shot (he's the one sporting the curly do) and thought it might be an interesting addition to this month's newsletter. Here's a little history that lead up to the taking of this picture.

Allan, started smoking a pipe at age 16, a time in his life he will never forget because he also lost his father that same year. On his 17th birthday Allan's mother handed him some money and said "Go to Boston and buy yourself a nice pipe." (Bless that woman!) Until now, all Allan new about pipes he learned from Kay Woodie and a Dr. Grabow. He took the money his mother gave him and ended up at Peretti's in Boston where he purchased his first Peterson, "The Thinking Man's Pipe". It was a shape 124 Killdeer Canadian, and it's been a love affair ever since. In 1987, at New England's first Pipe Show in Westborough, MA., Allan won first place for Best Pipe Brand for his collection of Peterson's. He was encouraged to take his collection to the National Pipe Show in Los Angeles which he did later that year and won first place for Best Pipe In Show for his Peterson Gold Banded Canadian Straight Grain.

No Peterson pipe had ever won this contest and he was invited by the Peterson Company to visit their factory in Dublin.... all expenses paid.

During the time Allan was in Dublin, visiting and touring the factory, reporters from the Dublin Times stopped by. They were doing a story on businesses in Ireland that were 100+ years old, of which Peterson was one. Allan was asked to join them in this photograph that would be printed along with the story in the Times. Something I'm sure would be a memorable moment for any of us. Allan describes the collection of pipes behind them as " A unique statement of the craft and art of Peterson Pipes."